[December 19, 2012]EDMONTON, Alberta (AP)
-- A member of the Canadian parliament says the Stanley Cup should be awarded to an amateur team if the NHL labor fight isn't settled in time to save the season.

Brent Rathgeber (RATH'-gay-buhr) suggests the cup could be the prize in a national competition to determine the best non-pro team in Canada.

A group of recreational players made a similar suggestion during the 2004-05 lockout, when they argued in court that Lord Stanley's cup wasn't the exclusive property of the NHL.

An out-of-court settlement back then said the cup's trustees have the option -- but not the obligation -- of awarding the prize to another team if there is no NHL champion.

Writing on his blog, Rathgeber points out the trustees' original purpose was to promote amateur hockey in Canada.